There are many different types of fire ants, and they are found all throughout the Southeastern and Southwestern United States. The most common and aggressive kind is the red imported fire ant, which is reddish-brown and measures about 1/8" long (about half the size of a pencil eraser).

Red imported fire ants live in colonies that first nest in the ground, and then create a mound of dirt over the nest. These mounds can grow up to 18 inches high and over two feet wide! Red imported fire ants' nests can be found on lawns, in parks, on playgrounds, in fields, and in pastures. Some red imported fire ants create nests in walls of buildings.

Imported fire ants,Solenopsis invicta, are reddish-brown and 3 mm to 6 mm long. Fire ants build large mounds in open, sunny areas and can forage indoors. Workers can sting, commonly causing a white pustule to form. The ant has two nodes on the petiole. Workers are polymorphic, and colonies are usually monogyne but sometimes polygyne.

Native fire ant, Solenopsis geminata, are reddish-brown to black and 3 mm to 6 mm long. It builds irregular, crater-shaped mounds in sunny areas. Workers can inflict a painful sting when disturbed.